Method and apparatus for controlling the movement of crop material in a roll forming machine

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for controlling the movement of crop material in a roll forming machine utilizes a direction means mounted to the rear portion of the floor of a material rolling machine. The direction means operates to compress the material as well as directing the material during the roll forming operation. The direction means further provides a method by which a semicontinuous mode of operation can be obtained.

United States Patent Todd et al.

[ METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF CROP MATERIAL INA ROLL FORMING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Robert R. Todd, Leola; Willis R.

Campbell, Ephrata, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, New

Holland, Pa.

[22] Filed: Apr. 18. 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 462,005

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.405,978, Oct. 12,

i973, Pat. No. 3,866,53l.

[52] US. Cl. 56/1; 56/DlG. 2 [5 l] Int. CL A01D 39/00 [58] Field ofSearch 56/341, l

[4 1 Oct. 28, 1975 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,847,073ll/l974 Mast et al. M 56/34! X Primary Examiner--Russell R. KinseyAttorney, Agent, or Firm.lohn R. Flanagan; Frank A. Seemar; Joseph A.Brown 57 ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for controlling the movement ofcrop material in a roll forming machine utilizes a direction meansmounted to the rear portion of the floor of a material rolling machine.The direction means operates to compress the material as well asdirecting the material during the roll forming operation. The directionmeans further provides a method by which a semi-continuous mode ofoperation can be obtained.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 2 of53,914,922

as m 80 F|G.2

U.S. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 3 of5 3,914,922

US. Patent Oct. 28, 1975 Sheet 4 of5 FlG. 4

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF CROP MATERIAL IN AROLL FORMING MACHINE This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser.No. 405,978, filed Oct. 12, 1973 and now US. Pat. No. 3,866,531.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed to crop materialroll forming machines and more particularly to a method and apparatus todirect material on the machine during the roll forming operation.

For many years, it has been customary to harvest forage crops by mowingthe crops, letting them dry in the field, forming the dried crop intowindrows, gathering the crops in windrowed form and forming the gatheredcrop material into rectangular bales.

Recently, it has been found that by forming the crop material into largecompact rolls of material rather than rectangular bales, as previouslydone, the material in roll form could be deposited and left in the fieldbecause the roll of material tends to provide a self-shedding protectivecovering from inclement weather. Since the rolled bale can be left inthe field the additional steps of gathering the rectangular bales andtransporting the gathered bales to a storage area away from the elementscan be eliminated.

Several methods of forming compact rolls of material have been devisedthroughout the years. In one of these methods a machine rolls the swathor windrow of material along the ground until a roll of desired size isobtained. Another, and more successful, method comprises a machine inwhich a swath or windrow of material is picked up from the field anddirected onto a lower conveyor. This conveyor transports material in onedirection while an upper apron, usually positioned above and adjacentthe conveyor moves in an opposite direction thereby rotating cropmaterial, with which it contacts, in a circular motion. This operationis continued until a roll of desired size and density has been formed atwhich time additional crop material ceases to be delivered to the lowerconveyor. To discharge the formed roll the upper apron is raised fromthe roll thereby permitting the roll to be moved from the floor by thelower conveyor.

This type of crop material roll forming machine has encountered certaindifficulties. For example, the operation described above necessitatesthe disruption of the bale forming process when the bale is dischargedthereby lengthening the time necessary for a farmer to harvest his cropsby 25 to 30 per cent.

Secondly, it has been difficult at times to obtain a roll of cropmaterial with a desired density.

Thirdly, the crop material during the hay rolling operation exerts avariety of forces upon the upper apron and in many instances has causedfractures on various portions of the upper apron.

Finally, the design of this latter type crop material roll formingmachine makes it necessary for the crop material transported by thesupporting conveyor to be properly positioned with respect to the upperapron assembly to successfully initiate the core of the roll.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The principle object of thepresent invention is to provide an improved roll bale machine havingnovel 2 means for directing material being transported by a lowerconveyor into contact with an upper apron assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rollbale machine adapted to compress crop material prior to its contact withan upper apron assembly, to enhance density characteristics of the rollbeing formed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved rollbale machine having means to direct material being transported by aconveyor into contact with an upper apron assembly and which means willeffectively eliminate excessive forces heretofor applied to the upperapron.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method forforming an improved roll bale of crop material which will permit theinitial formation of the roll of material prior to the lowering of theupper apron after the bale discharging operation has been completed,thereby enabling the roll forming machine to operate in a semicontinuousmanner during the baling operation.

The present invention contemplates improved method and apparatus forcontrolling the movement of crop material in a roll forming machinehaving a frame adapted to travel across a field and a floor mounted tothe frame for receiving a swath of crop material. Conveying means areassociated with the floor which cooperate with an upper apron assemblymounted for movement above the conveyor and in an opposite directionthereto for effectively rotating the crop material to form a roll. Morespecifically, direction means are operably associated with the rearportion of the floor for controllably guiding a swath or windrow ofmaterial on the conveyor into contact with the upper apron therebyenhancing roll density characteristics while preventing the applicationof excessive forces to the upper apron and which further facilitate asemi-continuous mode of operation for the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the present inven tion will becomeapparent and obvious from a study of the following description and theaccompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of the presentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation ofa cropmaterial roll forming machine in its initial or core forming position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a crop material roll forming machinecontaining a round bale.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a crop material roll forming machine inits discharge position.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a floor section of the crop material rollforming machine.

FIG. 5 is an end view of the floor section of the crop material rollforming machine.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the crop material roll forming machineafter it has discharged a formed roll and has begun forming another coreof material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 3,the machine illustrated therein comprises a base frame 10 having sidesfixedly connected together, such as by welding or the like. Each side ofsaid frame comprises a bottom horizontal member 12. The forward endthereof is connected to a vertical member 14. Extending perpendicularlyto the junction of members 12 and 14 is cross member 16, an end of whichis fixedly connected to the junction of members 12 and 14. A short framemember 18 extends upwardly from the rearward portion of bottom member 12and the upper end thereof is connected to one end of an upwardly andforwardly extending angular brace member 20, which is connected at itsupper end to the upper end of vertical member 14. Extending forwardlyfrom member 14 at each side of the machine is an A- frame (shown in FIG.3) consisting of angularly related members 22 and 24, the rearward endsof which are fixed to the front face of vertical member 14 and theforward ends being connected together at plate 26. Tractor hitch 27 ismounted to plate 26 and extends forwardly from the plate.

An upper frame 30 is provided with side frames composed of straightframe members 32, the ends of which are connected to the opposite endsof an arcuate frame member 34. The upper most portion of each side framemember is pivotally connected at 36 to a suitable bear ing fixed to theupper end of vertical frame member 14. Frame member 38 extends betweenthe upper end of angular brace member of frame 10 thereby stabilizingthe connection of the upper frame 30 at pivotal connection 36. The upperend of base frame 10 is stabilized transversely by a bracing member (notshown) which extends between bearing brackets 42 which are connected tothe front faces of the vertical frame members 14.

The lower rearward end of upper frame 30 also has a cross frame member44 extending between the opposite sides of the frame composed of members32 and 34.

Upper frame 30 is moved from its lower, bale forming position as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2 to its extended bale discharge position. shown in FIG.3, by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 46. These hydraulic cylinders havetheir barrel ends 45 connected to member 22 and their rod end 47connected to member 32 of upper frame 30. Suitable hydraulic lines, notshown, are connected to opposite ends of cylinder 46 to simultaneouslyactivate and control the operation of the upper frame.

The base frame 10 has a pair of wheels 48 (one wheel of each pair beingshown) connected thereto at opposite sides of the frame by an axle, notshown in order that the hay roll forming machine may be drawn by atractor or other suitable implement over a field for purposes of forminga roll of hay or similar forage material.

Extending forwardly from the front end of base frame 10 is a pickupheader 50. This header is adapted to engage, elevate and rearwardly feeda swath or windrow of forage material onto the crop material rollforming machine. The material engaged by the header is passed rearwardlyfrom the entrance end of lower apron 52 towards the rear of the machine.The lower apron 52 comprises a conveying means having a series ofendless, flexible chains 54 which are transversely spaced apart evendistances and which extend around driven sprockets 56 rotatably mountedon shaft 58 at the forward end of the hay rolling machine. The chains 54also pass around idler sprockets 57 rotatably mounted at the rear of themachine. Mounted above the horizontal member of frame 10 is a floor 60.The floor is rigid and connected to frame 10 by a series of extendingbars 64, the opposite ends of which are suitably connected to horizontalmember 12 of base frame 10 to support the floor in a horizontalposition. The upper courses of the chains 54 slide in channels 66 onfloor 60. These channels are transversely spaced and suitably secured tofloor 60 to support and guide the chains across the floor of themachine. The links of chains 54 have lugs 68 connected thereto. Theupper courses of the chains 54 move in direction A shown in FIGS. 1 3,so that the leading edges of the lugs engage and direct the materialrearwardly across the floor portion of the machine.

The rear most end of floor 60 contains a series of springs 70. Thesesprings are plates which are heat treated and which have an arcuateshape to extend up and away from the floor of the machine, as shown inFIG. l. These springs comprise a series of plates placed behind eachother so as to form a leaf spring arrangement. They are mounted betweenthe channels 66 which contain chains 54 thereby acting as a continuationof the floor of the machine. The forward most end of each spring isconnected to the floor by bolts 72. The outer or rear most end 73 ofeach spring curves rearwardly and downwardly so as not to interfere withthe roll forming or discharging operation of the roll forming machine.The spacing of the springs from one another is sufficiently wide topermit the chains 54 and lugs 68 to project therethrough when thesprings are in a horizontal position. When the springs are in theirelevated or initial core forming position, shown in FIG. 1, the chainsand lugs disappear below springs 70 at position D. This movement of thelugs below the springs results in the lugs disengaging the roll ofmaterial as it is being formed, thereby enabling the upper apron toengage and direct the material during the roll forming operation.

The upper frame 30 and certain guide rolls and sprockets which augmentand support the upper apron 76 are shown in FIGS. 1 3. The upper apronpreferably comprises a pair of endless flexible link type chains 77having, at longitudinally spaced intervals, bars (not shown) whichextend between said chains the full width of the machine. The bars maybe square or of any other suitable geometric shape. The upper apron 76is supported and driven by various rollers and sprockets. At each sideof upper frame 30, guide sprockets 78 and 80, respectively, aresupported by clevises which are connected to the opposite ends of thearcuate member 34. Affixed to the end of shaft 82, which is supported inbearing brackets 42 adjacent the upper end of vertical frame member 14,are pairs of oppositely extending arms 86 and 88. These arms comprisethe expansion means 91 for the upper apron. The ends of said armssupport rotatable guide sprockets and 92 upon which the endless chainsof upper apron 76 extends in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 3. Connected tothe expansion means is a spring and cable assembly 101. This assemblycontains a cable 104 which passes over pulley 102. The cable has one endconnected to the expansion means and another end connected to spring103. The spring is mounted to frame 10 so as to exert pressure on thecable to retard the rotational movement of the expansion means. Thisassembly operates to maintain the upper apron in contact with the rollof material as it is being formed so a particular density of materialcan be obtained. Driving sprockets 94 are provided at each side of themain frame and are connected to a driven shaft 96 that is supported inappropriate bearings fixed relative to the main frame 10. The lowercourse of the upper apron 76 also slidably extends over the upper'curved surface of movably mounted auxiliary guide members 98. Theseauxiliary guide members 98 are spring loaded and are adapted to beretracted into accommodating spaces in the side plates of the machine soas not to interfere with the ends of the roll of material as the roll isbeing formed. Therefore, as the roll increases in diameter the auxiliaryguide plates 98 will be pushed through openings 100 so as not tointerfere with the ends of the roll as the roll increases in diameter.

OPERATION As the hay roll forming machine is drawn over a field itspickup header 50 retrieves a swath of windrow material from the fieldand elevates and transports said material onto the floor 60 of the hayrolling machinev This material is placed on the floor whereupon thelugs, mounted on the flexible chain 54 rotating in direction A,transport the material from the front portion of the floor towards therear. As the material moves towards the rear of the machine, it isdirected up and away from the floor by springs 70. These springs, due totheir arcuate shape, strip the material from the lugs thereby causingthe material to move upwardly along the springs compressing the materialat position C of the springs. As material is continuously beingdelivered to the floor of the machine the material at position C isdirected against upper apron 76 (as shown in FIG. 1 in its bale formingposition) which is rotating in direction B, opposite to the direction ofrotation of lower chain 54. This type of rotation causes the material tobe rotated in a counterclockwise manner to form the material into aroll.

This procedure is continued thereby progressively increasing thediameter of the roll of material. As the roll expands in diameter, thesprings 70 (due to the increased weight of the bale) will be deflecteddownwardly causing the springs to conform with the outer periphery ofthe bale. Such a deflection, by springs 70, is shown in FIG. 2.

When the roll is formed and it is desired to discharge the formed rollof material additional crop material ceases to be delivered to floor 60.Upper frame 30 is then elevated to its bale discharge position throughthe use of hydraulic cylinders 46 while the lugs mounted on the lowerchain 54 engage the bottom most portion of the roll of material therebymoving said material rearwardly further compressing springs 70 untilthey have reached an essentially horizontal position as indicated inFIG. 3. When the springs have reached this horizontal position, (due tothe weight of the bale upon the springs) lugs 68 will protrude throughthe spaces thereby positively engaging and urging the roll of mate rialrearwardly off of the roll forming machine. Once the bale clears themachine the springs immediately return to their initial position, shownin FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 6, once the springs have returned to their initialposition and prior to the lowering of the upper frame the roll formingmachine can resume delivery of the crop material to the floor of themachine since the springs will direct the incoming crop material backonto the flexible chain conveyor thereby initiating core 110 of theroll, This type of operation creates a semi-continuous roll formingoperation which substan- 6 tially decreases the length of time of theharvesting operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Method for forming a roll of crop material in a roll forming machinehaving a floor and upper apron assembly between which the roll isformed, said method comprising:

a. delivering a swath of crop material from a field to the floor of theroll forming machine,

b. moving the material longitudinally across the floor,

c. directing said material away from said floor and into contact withthe upper apron under conditions where the apron is positioned in alowered bale forming position,

d. rotating said material between said upper apron and said floor,

e. discontinuing delivery of said swath of crop material,

f. raising said upper apron from contact with the roll of material andinto a raised bale discharging position,

g. conveying said roll from said floor,

h. delivering a swath of crop material from the field to said floor andthen directing said material away from a discharge end of said floor tothereby initiate the formation of another roll of material prior to thelowering of said upper apron to its bale forming position, and

i. lowering said upper apron to its bale forming position.

2. Method for forming a roll of crop material in a roll forming machinehaving a floor and an upper apron assembly between which the roll isformed, said method comprising:

a. delivering a swath of crop material from a field to the floor of theroll forming machine,

b. moving the material longitudinally across the floor,

0. directing said material away from an end of said floor and intocontact with the upper apron under conditions where the apron ispositioned in its lowered bale forming position,

d. rotating said material between said upper apron and said floor,

e. compressing said material during rotation between said upper apronand said floor,

f. discontinuing delivery of said material to said floor of saidmachine,

g. raising said upper apron from contact with the roll of material andinto a bale discharging position,

h. conveying said roll from said floor,

i. delivering a swath of crop material from the field to said floor andthen directing said material away from a discharge end of said floor tothereby initiate the formation of another roll of material prior to thelowering of said upper apron to its bale forming position, and

j. lowering said upper apron to its bale forming position.

1. Method for forming a roll of crop material in a roll forming machinehaving a floor and upper apron assembly between which the roll isformed, said method comprising: a. delivering a swath of crop materialfrom a field to the floor of the roll forming machine, b. moving thematerial longitudinally across the floor, c. directing said materialaway from said floor and into contact with the upper apron underconditions where the apron is positioned in a lowered bale formingposition, d. rotating said material between said upper apron and saidfloor, e. discontinuing delivery of said swath of crop material, f.raising said upper apron from contact with the roll of material and intoa raised bale discharging position, g. conveying said roll from saidfloor, h. delivering a swath of crop material from the field to saidfloor and then directing said material away from a discharge end of saidfloor to thereby initiate the formation of another roll of materialprior to the lowering of said upper apron to its bale forming position,and i. lowering said upper apron to its bale forming position.
 2. Methodfor forming a roll of crop material in a roll forming machine having afloor and an upper apron assembly between which the roll is formed, saidmethod comprising: a. delivering a swath of crop material from a fieldto the floor of the roll forming machine, b. moving the materiallongitudinally across the floor, c. directing said material away from anend of said floor and into contact with the upper apron under conditionswhere the apron is positioned in its lowered bale forming position, d.rotating said material between said upper apron and said floor, e.compressing said material during rotation between said upper apron andsaid floor, f. discontinuing delivery of said material to said floor ofsaid machine, g. raising said upper apron from contact with the roll ofmaterial and into a bale discharging position, h. conveying said rollfrom said floor, i. delivering a swath of crop material from the fieldto said floor and then directing said material away from a discharge endof said floor to thereby initiate the formation of another roll ofmaterial prior to the lowering of said upper aprOn to its bale formingposition, and j. lowering said upper apron to its bale forming position.